FIFA 08
British and Irish cover featuring Manchester United's Wayne Rooney and Barcelona's Ronaldinho
Developer(s)EA Canada
Publisher(s)EA Sports
Designer(s)Joe Booth
Jonathan Gallina
Darren Hedges
David Hoffmann
Kaz Makita
Gary Paterson
Jamie Toghill
SeriesFIFA
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows
Consoles
Handhelds
Release
  • AU: 27 September 2007
  • EU: 28 September 2007
  • NA: 8 October 2007 (PSP)[1]
  • NA: 9 October 2007[1]
  • JP: 29 October 2007
Genre(s)Sports
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

FIFA 08 (titled FIFA Soccer 08 in North America ) is a football simulation video game developed by EA Canada and published by Electronic Arts under the EA Sports label. It was released on all popular gaming formats in September 2007 in Europe, Australia and Asia, and in October 2007 in North America. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions of the game feature an improved game engine with superior graphics and different commentators and are dubbed "next-generation" by EA. On all other platforms—including the PC—the game utilizes an older engine. The Nintendo DS version features fewer teams, stadiums, game modes and kits due to the limitations of the machine's storage medium.

Commentary comes from Sky Sports' Martin Tyler and Andy Gray on next generation consoles. However, ITV Sport's Clive Tyldesley partners Gray on current generation consoles, and the PC version of the game. On the Nintendo DS version of the game, Tyldesley commentates solo. It also marks the first time the GameCube has been excluded from the FIFA lineup since FIFA 2001 and the first the original Xbox and Game Boy Advance has been excluded from the FIFA lineup since FIFA Football 2002.

The tagline for the game is "Can You FIFA 08?".[3] The theme song is "Sketches (20 Something Life)" by La Rocca, from the album The Truth.

New features

New features that were not in FIFA 07 include "Be a Pro Mode", where the player plays as only one player (the player can be changed) throughout the entire match.[3] However, this mode is not available for goalkeepers.

New features for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 include cooperative online play and a change of controls, which features the right stick as a way of selecting which player is to be on defense. However, this control setting can be changed back to the FIFA 07 configuration as well as other preset control configurations. In addition, the online mode has a new addition with interactive leagues, where players choose a league, a team, and play against real-life opponents. While not an entirely new feature, FIFA 08 includes new trick moves that can be used by using the right analog stick, which were, for the most part, absent in FIFA 07. In general, the speed of game also has decreased in FIFA 08.

In the PS2 version of the game, two new features were added. The first being goalkeeper AI, which meant when in a one-on-one situation with a forward and goalkeeper, one could push the right analog stick and have complete control of the goalkeeper. The second of these was when taking a free kick you were able to push the R3 (right stick) to lock the position of the ball, while you used the stick to determine exactly where you wanted the free kick to go. These were two features that have not been used in any FIFA games since, although many users and fans have expressed their feelings to see both or one make a welcome return.

Manager Mode

The Manager Mode on 08 has few enhancements from its predecessor, however, some of the new features include the chance to schedule training on certain dates, via the manager's calendar, and the option to play up to four pre-season friendlies.

Leagues and teams

FIFA 08 includes 621 licensed teams, 43 national teams, with 30 leagues[4] and more than 15,000 licensed players.[5] Several teams from other leagues also appear in a "Rest of World" category. Of the 621 teams that comprise the game, 29 appear unlicensed, 13 of them being national teams.[citation needed]

National teams

FIFA 08 has 44 teams in its international division. The most notable exclusion is Japan (who made it into the round of 16 in the 2002 World Cup, but whose licensing rights currently belong to Konami). The following international teams are playable in the current generation consoles. But not all the teams are fully licensed e.g. Netherlands

Soundtrack

EA Sports officially announced FIFA 08s' soundtrack on 11 September 2007.[6] It featured many Latin music acts including Ivy Queen and Pacha Massive.[7]

Reception

The PlayStation 2 version of FIFA 08 received a "Double Platinum" sales award from the Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association (ELSPA),[27] indicating sales of at least 600,000 copies in the United Kingdom.[28] ELSPA gave the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 releases each a "Platinum" certification,[29] for sales of at least 300,000 copies per version in the region.[28]

Awards

In 2008, FIFA 08 was nominated for BAFTA Children's Kids Vote Award.[30] During the 11th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, FIFA 08 received a nomination for "Sports Game of the Year" by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences.[31]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Staff, GameSpot (8 October 2007). "Shippin' Out October 8-12: Orange Box, Sega Rally Revo, FIFA 08". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 20 October 2013. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  2. ^ "N-Gage Game Showroom – FIFA 08". Nokia. Archived from the original on 23 May 2008. Retrieved 9 May 2008.
  3. ^ a b "FIFA 08". EA Sports. Archived from the original on 23 May 2008.
  4. ^ FIFA 08 First Look Archived 18 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine by ign.com
  5. ^ Master the skills required to play like a pro in EA's FIFA 08 for Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 Archived 3 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine by EA Sports. 5 June 2007
  6. ^ "FIFA 08 Soundtrack announced". EA Sports. 11 September 2007. Archived from the original on 18 November 2007.
  7. ^ Ben-Yehuda, Ayala (11 September 2007). "EA FIFA Soundtrack Adds Latin Flair". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on 6 January 2015. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
  8. ^ "FIFA Soccer 08 for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 4 November 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  9. ^ "FIFA Soccer 08 for PlayStation 3 Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 4 November 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  10. ^ "FIFA Soccer 08 for Xbox 360 Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 4 November 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  11. ^ "FIFA Soccer 08 for PlayStation 2 Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 4 November 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  12. ^ "FIFA Soccer 08 for Wii Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 4 November 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  13. ^ "FIFA Soccer 08 for PSP Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 4 November 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  14. ^ "FIFA Soccer 08 for DS Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 8 November 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  15. ^ Ahearn, Nate (10 October 2007). "FIFA 08 Review". IGN. Archived from the original on 4 November 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  16. ^ Ahearn, Nate (11 October 2007). "FIFA 08 Review". IGN. Archived from the original on 4 November 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  17. ^ Ahearn, Nate (1 November 2007). "FIFA 08 Review". IGN. Archived from the original on 4 November 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  18. ^ Ahearn, Nate (31 October 2007). "FIFA 08 Review". IGN. Archived from the original on 4 November 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  19. ^ Cocker, Guy (4 October 2007). "FIFA 08 Review". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 4 November 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  20. ^ Cocker, Guy (26 October 2007). "FIFA 08 Review". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 4 November 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  21. ^ Cocker, Guy (10 October 2007). "FIFA 08 Review". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 4 November 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  22. ^ Cocker, Guy (13 November 2007). "FIFA 08 Review". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 4 November 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  23. ^ McFerran, Damien (4 October 2007). "FIFA 08 Review (Wii)". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on 4 November 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  24. ^ McFerran, Damien (5 November 2007). "FIFA 08 Review (DS)". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on 4 November 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  25. ^ Thomsen, Mike (14 October 2007). "FIFA 08 Review". Nintendo World Report. Archived from the original on 4 November 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  26. ^ Thomsen, Mike (6 November 2007). "FIFA 08 Review". Nintendo World Report. Archived from the original on 4 November 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  27. ^ "ELSPA Sales Awards: Double Platinum". Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association. Archived from the original on 20 May 2009.
  28. ^ a b Caoili, Eric (26 November 2008). "ELSPA: Wii Fit, Mario Kart Reach Diamond Status In UK". Gamasutra. Archived from the original on 18 September 2017.
  29. ^ "ELSPA Sales Awards: Platinum". Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association. Archived from the original on 15 May 2009. Retrieved 18 January 2009.
  30. ^ "BAFTA Children's Kids Vote 2008 nominees". Archived from the original on 6 December 2008. Retrieved 13 November 2008.
  31. ^ "2008 Awards Category Details Sports Game of the Year". interactive.org. Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 14 November 2023.

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